Enhancement of photoacoustic signals from condensed materials in the presence of volatile liquids: Influence of optical absorption coefficient, particle size, length of the gas phase and chopping frequency

Abstract

The influence of the optical absorption coefficient, the particle size, the chopping frequency, and the length of the gas phase on the recently observed enhancement of photoacoustic signals in the presence of saturated vapors of ether has been investigated. Amorphous selenium has been used as the standard. The particle size plays a crucial role in understanding the enhancement as a function of optical absorption coefficient or chopping frequency. The enhancement is more when the optical absorption length is greater than particle size. The frequency dependence of the photoacoustic signal in the presence of ether is different from that in air when the thermal diffusion length of the solid is greater than the particle size. A qualitative interpretation of the results based on the "adsorbed" piston effect has been made.